The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1887-11-02
CONCERNING PolsoNs.
Why They XIII and Why Some Will No
XIII, II Taken In Large Doses.

XIII, II Taken In Large Doses.
Poisons are of many different kinds,
and act upon the animal organism I'M
different ways. 1t is by no means true
that all poisons may be taken in large
quantities with safety; indeed this is
only true of few substances, and the
reason Of this is that the large dose
produces violent effort of nature to
throw it of, which in some cases is sue
cessful, before absorption can take
place. Poisons are said to have both
local and remote effects, and it may
happen that though some cause inter.
venes to prevent fatal action locally,
the poisoA may have remote effects
that kill no less unfailingly. Poi
sons are usually arranged in four diff
ferent classes; as corrosive poisons,
irritant poisons, neurotic poisons
and gaseous poisons. The typi-
cal poison of the class of corrosives is
the soluble chloride of mercury, known
as chloride of sublimate, which pro-
duces in an extreme degree the symp-
toms of corrosive poisoning, the burn
ing and destruction of the soft tissues
of the mouth and stomach; also concen-
trated mineral acids, sulphuric, nitric
and hydrochloric; oxalic acid; the aka
lies, potash, soda and ammonia, and
their carbonates, the metallic salts and
carbolic acid. Irritant poisons are of
two kinds, metallic irritants and vege-
table irritants. Their especial effect is
to infame the alimentary canal, and
they often produce also peculiar effects
on the nervous system. The action Of
an irritant is similar to that of a corro-
sive, only slower in its development;
indeed nearly all the corrosives, if di.
luted, may be classed as irritants.
They produce intense burning pain in
the stomach, attended by nausea. vom.
ting and great thirst, followed by pro-
fuse diarrhGa, and if nature is not able
fully to eliminate the deadly substance
by means of the vomiting and purging,
inflammatory fever sets in, followed by
nervous collapse, and death ensues.
The typhoid specific irritant poison is
arsenic. In the same class are the salts
of lead, the soluble salts of copper,
zinc and barium, the chromates, crude
phosphorus, and large number Of
vegetable extracts. In the large class
of neurotics, we find prussic acid, which
acts by paralyzing the circulation
opium, which produces, if the dose
taken is large enough, a state of pro
.founf coma, by congcsting the blood
vessels Of the brain; strychninc. whicl
acts directly upon the ganglionic cente
at the base of the brain. producing VIC
lent spasms and ultimate nerve paraly
sis; and aconite, which hrst paralyzes tn,
nerves of motion and sensation, rapid,
extending to the heart and producin:
death from syncope. Belladonna ant
other vegetable substances are also in
cluded in this class, substances that ii
small doses are valuable medicines, bu
in large doses are active poisoHs. Gas
eous poisons have varied effects, som
of them acting as irritants, others caus
ing specific symptoms, apparently il
consequence of their forming chemica
compounds with the blood; others pro
ducing death by checking respiration
rs when the lungs are filled with al
irrespirable gas. Besides this classife'
list there are substances which ar
poisonous to the blood though not t
the stomach. There are also instance
where through certain conditions q
the system substance usually re
garlcd as Innocent may act rs poison
Foods, vegetables, fruit and meat j
decay form substances that are highl
poisonous. Chicago Inter Ocean.